Bedbug infestation in Lahore hospitals.

Abstract

Bedbug infestation has been reported globally, but there are few reports about this parasite of public health importance in Pakistan. This is the first study on bedbug infestation in a healthcare setting in Lahore, Pakistan. To study bedbug infestation in public sector hospitals in Lahore, Pakistan. This cross-sectional study was conducted in 86 wards of 2 tertiary care hospitals in Lahore during October and November 2019, using nonprobability sampling technique. Ward supervisors were interviewed using a self-developed structured questionnaire and wards were examined for bedbugs or their markers. Evidence of bedbug infestation was found in 72.1% of the wards. There was no significant difference in infestation rate between the 2 hospitals but there was a significantly lower incidence of infestation in wards that implemented control measures (25.8% vs 74.2%). No control measures were implemented in 53.4% of the wards sampled. Bedbug infestation was rife in the 2 hospitals studied and knowledge about identification and eradication of the pest among ward supervisors was inadequate. Control measures, where applied, were substandard and not evidence-based.